Edwin b



(No Model.) I

` B. Ef PRATT.

` DEVICE POR LOCKING REMOVABLB STBREOTYPEg. No 296.061; Y Patnted Apr.1,1884.

gli @f2- [ai wesesg. N 72mm *UNITED STATESPATENT OFFICE.

`nnvvin EPRATT, or` CHICAGO, Anmnvois, `Assrenon TO THE A. n. KELLOGG`NEVSPAPER COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

DEVICE FOR LOCKING `RENIOVABLE STREOTYPES.

`SPI-IICIFICATION forming part of Letters PatentNo. 296,061, dated Aprill, 1884.

Application filed August 9,1883. `(No model.)

T all whom. it may concern..-

Be it known that I, EDWINE. PRATT, a

citizen of theUnited States, residing in Chicago, in the county of Cookand State of Illinois, have invented a new and useful Improvement inDevices for Locking `Removable Stereotypes, of which the following is aspeoication.

This invention relates to means for locking removable stereotype-platesto their supporting bed-blocks while inthe form, and is designedtoavoid. some ofthe evils attending the use of the present forms offastenings.

The invention consists in the combination, with a plate and bed-blockhaving dovetail or equivalent grooves or recesses, of a collapsiblelooking device, which may be inserted in the block at any point in thegroove therein,

g instead of at the end, in the customary way. 2O `such a block andplate, of a locking key or de- It further consists in the combination,with vice `adapted to collapse for insertion in the the locking deviceitself, as hereinafter more groove of the, block at any point therein,and to automatically spread and adjust itself to the groove afterinsertion.

It also consists in the novel construction of fully set forth.

` l 1 In the accompanying drawings, which form `a part of thisspecification, and in which similar letters of reference indicate likeparts, Figure l is asectional end view of a plate and e lbloclr lockedtogether by my invention. Fig. "2 is a view of the block, showing thelocking device about to be inserted in the holdinggroove thereof. Fig. 3shows the manner of withdrawing the locking device from the groove. Fig.4. is an end view of the locking `ment in the usual manner.

i gage withthe angling or cut under sides of the 5o them apart, may alsobe employed, if thought desirable. When the parts are to be lockedtogether, the wings of this collapsible fasten-4 ing are forced into theposition shown in Fig. 2, so that one wing of each pair may enter thegroove in the plate at any point between the ends thereof`that is tosay, by avertical movement from above the groove. `The plate is thenpositioned and fastened by slipping it over said locking device by anendwise Inove- When it is desired to remove the locking device from thegroove, it may be done bypressing upon one of the upper wings, asillustrated inFig. 3, which causes it to spring readily out of thegroove.

This device may be used with great advantage in cases where a number ofplates are placed upon a single bed-block. It saves oft-` 75 entimes theremoval of some portion of `the plates when an intermediate one of thenumber is to be changed, as by sliding the plates, those below the oneto be changed, sufficiently to uncover one of the locking devices, anopening may be made through which the change desired can be made. Thefastening may of course be inserted at the end of the groove in theusual way, as well as elsewhere therein.

It will be understood that any form of groove having the locking orundercut peculiarity of the dovetail groove will be the equivalent inconnection with the collapsible locking device of the particular form ofgroove shown. In this category may .be classed T, Y, and analogous formsof groove. `It is obvious, also, that the device may be rst inserted inthe same way in the plate, instead of the block, if that is moreconvenient. The pivotal wire is preferably provided with an eye, j', atone end, whereby it may bedrawn along and positioned in the groove by ahook inserted from the bottom of the form without disturbing the i eachpair of wings, so as to open or spread 2 l z' Y I 296,061

plate held by it. The Wings may of course be pivoted centrally insteadof at the ends, as shown, and the eye need not be formed npon thepivotal wire.

1. `The combination," with the plate and bloek, of an independent anddetached eol lapsible fastening, substantially such as shown.

2. The combination, with the plate and block, of an independent anddetached collapsible and self-adj usting fastening, substantially asspecified.

3. The fastening or locking device herein shown7 consisting of the twopairs of wings or arms, hinged together and operating substan- 15 tiallyas specified. v

4. The fastening` or locking device consisting of the tWo pairs of Wingsor arms hinged together, and the spring for automatically spreading theWings, substantially as specied. 2o

5. 'The collapsible or hinged locking device provided with. the eye orhandle f, substan' tially as specified.

EDWIN E. PRATT.

Witnesses:

T. EVERETT BROWN, H. M. MUNDAY.

